News

'Horses for courses' for Boks

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:32

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has tweaked his back row for the second Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday

Jacques Potgieter has been promoted from the bench to start at blindside flank, with Willem Alberts moving to No.8 and Keegan Daniel dropping to the bench.

Also in the pack, Adriaan Strauss replaces the injured Bismarck du Plessis at hooker and takes over the vice-captaincy.

New alongside Daniel on the bench is Tiaan Liebenberg (hooker), who will make his Springbok Test debut if he gets game time as a replacement.

Two forwards who were doubtful earlier in the week, Andries Bekker (lock) and Marcell Coetzee (flank), both passed fitness tests.

Bekker left the field at Newlands with an ankle injury and Coetzee suffered a slight twinge to his groin at training earlier in the week.

"It was a difficult decision between Jacques and Keegan, but we have gone with horses for courses this time," said Meyer.

"We're expecting it will be very physical early in the game and it might open up later, which perfectly suits the strong points of both Jacques and Keegan.

"The Pumas also mauled quite well in Cape Town and we were not happy with the defence of their mauls, so with the extra weight Jacques brings, we will have to ensure we stop their drives.

"Argentina played a very physical game in Cape Town - as we expected - and they will step it up this weekend in front of their home fans. It will be a very tough Test and we need to be 100 percent switched on."

In a huge boost for the Springboks, Bryan Habana has been declared fit to start.

Habana, the most experienced member of the squad with 78 Tests for South Africa, injured his left ankle against Argentina in Cape Town last weekend and passed a fitness test on Wednesday.

That means the backline is unchanged from the one that beat Argentina by 27-6 at Newlands.

"Having Bryan is obviously a big boost as we’ve lost a number of players with lots of experience after JP Pietersen, Pierre Spies and Bismarck du Plessis already had to withdraw from our squad," said Meyer.

The Springboks will start the match with a combined total of 412 Test caps – 130 of those in the forwards and 282 in the backs.